The Kansas Arts Commission approved new guidelines Thursday that would put the state's arts organizations on equal footing when applying for operational support grants.
The vote on the measure was postponed Wednesday because only five of the state's 12 arts commissioners showed up for the first day of its two-day meeting at the Lied Center.
Seven arts commissioners were in attendance Thursday.
Robert Feldt, Great Bend; Raymond Olais, North Newton; Elwanda Richardson, Kansas City; Lisa Adkins, Leawood; and, John Hunter, Topeka, remaining absent.
The new guidelines mean the panel used to determine the amounts of operational support grants will be eliminated and replaced with a formula.
David Wilson, executive director of the Kansas Arts Commission, said using a formula is a more objective way to decide funding. In the past, a panel member's bias for or against an organization could affect his or her vote. Also, larger arts organizations that have more resources had an advantage over groups from rural or small communities.
Operational support grants typically are 3 to 4 percent of an arts organization's budget and require the organizations to generate matching funds.
Wilson said arts organizations would still have to apply for the grants and meet all requirements.
"It will simplify the process, but it still has all the checks and balances," he said. " " We have pledged that no organization will be harmed."
The formula will apply only to operational support grants and not affect Arts in Education, Youth At-Risk and Grassroots grants, Wilson said.
-- Jan Biles' phone message number is 832-7146. Her e-mail address is jbiles@ljworld.com.
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